Cave 7: Ganesha Temple Lenyadri

1 cave 7: ganesha temple

1.1 architecture
1.2 legend
1.3 worship

cave 7: ganesha temple


architecture

the ganesha temple located in cave 7, largest excavation around junnar, 100 feet (30 m) above plains. buddhist vihara (a dwelling monks, meditation cells) in design, unpillared hall 20 cells varying dimensions; 7 on either side , 6 on rear wall. hall large, can entered central door, under pillared veranda. hall 17.37 metres (57.0 ft) long; 15.54 metres (51.0 ft) wide , 3.38 metres (11.1 ft) high. there 2 windows on either side of entrance. hall treated sabha-mandapa ( assembly hall ) of ganesha temple. 283 steps built (by devotees) in stone masonry on 8 flights lead entrance. steps believed represent sensual pleasures, ganesha has overcome. veranda has 6 pillars , 2 pilasters (half-pillars), support architrave projects eaves relieved railing resting on beams , rafters . pillars have octagonal shafts , on benches , rest , topped inverted ghata, compressed amalaka in between 2 square plates, inverted stepped pyramid , crowned bracket tigers, elephants , bulls.

in later period, 2 central cells of rear wall have been combined breaking partition in between house ganesha image. old entrance widened during conversion ganesha temple. there 2 other smaller entrances hall. entrances bear marks of sockets fixing wooden doors, added during conversion, , still have doors. hall has traces of plaster , paintings, both added during conversion , renewed in later times - possibly late 19th century. gazetteer of bombay presidency (1882) records hall plastered , white-washed. paintings depicted ganesha s childhood, marriage preparations, battle demons , forth, along scenes of other hindu deities devi, krishna, vishnu , shiva. of cells fitted wooden doors used storage. 9 sati memorials added on left wall during conversion, each in shape of long pillar arched top, , right of each pillar hand raised above elbow, open palm, signifies sati s blessing. while 3 panels plain, other memorials sculpted. of them worn out, 1 of them hints subject may immolation of sati on husband s funeral pyre.

icon


inside of cave no.7



interior of ganesha temple cave.

the ganesha form worshipped here called girijatmaja (sanskrit: गिरिजात्मज). name either interpreted mountain-born or atmaja of girija , son of parvati, herself daughter of mountain himavan, personification of mountains of himalayas. features of ganesha icon, seen on wall of cave, least distinct vis-a-vis other ashtavinayak temples. though temple faces inauspicious south, - according local tradition - deity faces north, worshipper , face visible on other side of mountain. peshwa rulers tried in vain locate face of ganesha on other side. central icon covered brass-plated wooden armour, given gift junnar. brahmins, armour not present currently. after removed, ganesha seen trunk turned left side, facing east, 1 of eyes visible. icon covered sindoor , directly formed/sculpted on stone wall of cave.

like ashtavinayaka temples, central ganesha image believed svayambhu (self-existent), naturally occurring stone formation resembling elephant-face.

legend

the sanctum , central icon

according ganapatya scripture ganesha purana, ganesha incarnated mayuresvara or mayureshwar (mayūreśvara), had 6 arms , white complexion. mount peacock. born shiva , parvati in treta yuga, purpose of killing demon sindhu.

once parvati (girija) asked husband shiva meditating on. said meditating on supporter of entire universe - ganesha, , initiated parvati ganesha mantra gam . desiring have son, parvati underwent austerities meditating on ganesha, twelve years @ lenyadri. pleased penance, ganesha blessed boon born son. accordingly, on fourth lunar day of bright fortnight of hindu month bhadrapada (ganesh chaturthi day), parvati worshipped clay image of ganesha, came alive. thus, ganesha born parvati @ lenyadri. later, named gunesha shiva. shiva gave him boon whosoever remembers him before starting job, complete task. 15 years gunesha grew @ lenyadri. sindhu, knew death @ hands of gunesha, sent demons krur, balasur, vyomasur, kshemma, kushal, , many more, kill gunesha, of them instead killed him. @ age of six, architect-god vishwakarma worshipped gunesha , endowed him weapons pasha (noose), parashu (axe), ankusha (hook) , padma (lotus). once, little gunesha knocked egg mango tree, emerged peacock. gunesha mounted peacock , assumed name mayuresvara. mayuresvara later killed sindhu , army-generals @ morgaon, important ashtavinayaka temple.

worship

lenyadri 1 of 8 revered ganesha temples collectively called ashtavinayaka. while believe order of visiting temples in ashtavinayaka pilgrimage irrelevant, lenyadri visited 6th temple.

the caves including temple lie under control of archaeological survey of india. sardar deshpande priest in charge of temple s activities. not stay in lenyadri. priests there claim yajurvedi brahmins. festivals of ganesh jayanti , ganesh chaturthi celebrated in temple, when pilgrims crowd ashtavinayak temples.